Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 6].
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6:1 {Take heed} (\prosechete\). The Greek idiom includes "mind"
(\noun\) which is often expressed in ancient Greek and once in
the Septuagint (Job 7:17). In the New Testament the substantive
\nous\ is understood. It means to "hold the mind on a matter,"
take pains, take heed. "Righteousness" (\dikaiosun•n\) is the
correct text in this verse. Three specimens of the Pharisaic
"righteousness" are given (alms, prayer, fasting). {To be seen}
(\theath•nai\). First aorist passive infinitive of purpose. Our
word _theatrical_ is this very word, spectacular performance.
{With your Father} (\para t•i patri hum•n\). Literally "beside
your Father," standing by his side, as he looks at it.
6:2 {Sound not a trumpet} (\m• salpis•is\). Is this literal or
metaphorical? No actual instance of such conduct has been found
in the Jewish writings. McNeile suggests that it may refer to the
blowing of trumpets in the streets on the occasion of public
fasts. Vincent suggests the thirteen trumpet-shaped chests of the
temple treasury to receive contributions (Lu 21:2). But at
Winona Lake one summer a missionary from India named Levering
stated to me that he had seen Hindu priests do precisely this
very thing to get a crowd to see their beneficences. So it looks
as if the rabbis could do it also. Certainly it was in keeping
with their love of praise. And Jesus expressly says that "the
hypocrites" (\hoi hupokritai\) do this very thing. This is an old
word for actor, interpreter, one who personates another, from
\hupokrinomai\ to answer in reply like the Attic \apokrinomai\.
Then to pretend, to feign, to dissemble, to act the hypocrite, to
wear a mask. This is the hardest word that Jesus has for any
class of people and he employs it for these pious pretenders who
pose as perfect. {They have received their reward} (\apechousin
ton misthon aut•n\). This verb is common in the papyri for
receiving a receipt, "they have their receipt in full," all the
reward that they will get, this public notoriety. "They can sign
the receipt of their reward" (Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, p.
229). So _Light from the Ancient East_, pp. 110f. \Apoch•\ means
"receipt." So also in 6:5.
6:4 {In secret} (\t•i krupt•i\). The Textus Receptus added the
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MT6.RWP.html (1 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:03:00 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Matthew: Chapter 6)